diff --git a/crates/ferese-theme/README.md b/crates/ferese-theme/README.md
index ac39216..de0b05f 100644
--- a/crates/ferese-theme/README.md
+++ b/crates/ferese-theme/README.md
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ prompt and screen-sharing/recording chooser.
 - `Palette` resolves KDL colors and corners and builds the native toolkit theme.
 - `PRESETS` defines the six built-in color schemes.
 - `font` and `text` share bounded font-name storage and explicit font selection.
-- `controls` supplies surfaces, navigation, buttons and input styles.
+- `controls` supplies surfaces, navigation, font-aware text buttons and input styles.
 - `menus` supplies headings, rows, sections, separators, switches and slider styles.
 - `calendar` supplies date/time labels, stacked clock digits and calendar grids.
   Callers supply the date and navigation controls.
diff --git a/crates/ferese-theme/src/controls.rs b/crates/ferese-theme/src/controls.rs
index bcf7532..3acc294 100644
--- a/crates/ferese-theme/src/controls.rs
+++ b/crates/ferese-theme/src/controls.rs
@@ -13,6 +13,28 @@ pub fn button_style(p: Palette, selected: bool) -> theme::Button {
     styled_button(p, selected, false)
 }
 
+pub fn text_button<'a, M: Clone + 'a>(
+    label: impl Into<std::borrow::Cow<'a, str>> + 'a,
+    font: cosmic::font::Font,
+    palette: Palette,
+    selected: bool,
+) -> button::Button<'a, M> {
+    let theme = cosmic::theme::active();
+    let native = theme.cosmic();
+    let content = widget::row![
+        crate::text(label, font)
+            .size(14)
+            .line_height(cosmic::iced::widget::text::LineHeight::Absolute(20.into())),
+    ]
+    .height(native.space_l())
+    .padding([0, native.space_s()])
+    .align_y(cosmic::iced::Alignment::Center);
+
+    button::custom(content)
+        .padding(0)
+        .class(button_style(palette, selected))
+}
+
 pub fn navigation_style(p: Palette, selected: bool) -> theme::Button {
     styled_button(p, selected, true)
 }
diff --git a/portal/src/picker.rs b/portal/src/picker.rs
index dbf3db8..adc6fed 100644
--- a/portal/src/picker.rs
+++ b/portal/src/picker.rs
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ struct Picker {
     prompt: Prompt,
     selected: Vec<usize>,
     background: cosmic::iced::Color,
-    foreground: cosmic::iced::Color,
+    palette: ferese_theme::Palette,
     font: cosmic::font::Font,
 }
 
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ pub fn run() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
         return Err("No shareable displays".into());
     }
 
-    let (theme, font, background, foreground) = appearance();
+    let (theme, font, background, palette) = appearance();
     let height = 180. + (prompt.sources.len().min(4) as f32 * 56.);
     cosmic::app::run::<Picker>(
         Settings::default()
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ pub fn run() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
             .default_font(font)
             .default_text_size(14.)
             .is_daemon(false),
-        (prompt, background, foreground, font),
+        (prompt, background, palette, font),
     )?;
 
     Ok(())
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ impl cosmic::Application for Picker {
     type Flags = (
         Prompt,
         cosmic::iced::Color,
-        cosmic::iced::Color,
+        ferese_theme::Palette,
         cosmic::font::Font,
     );
     type Message = Message;
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ impl cosmic::Application for Picker {
 
     fn init(
         mut core: Core,
-        (prompt, background, foreground, font): Self::Flags,
+        (prompt, background, palette, font): Self::Flags,
     ) -> (Self, Task<Message>) {
         core.window.show_headerbar = false;
         core.window.border_padding = Some(0);
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ impl cosmic::Application for Picker {
             prompt,
             selected: Vec::new(),
             background,
-            foreground,
+            palette,
             font,
         };
         let task = app
@@ -194,15 +194,11 @@ impl cosmic::Application for Picker {
     }
 
     fn style(&self) -> Option<cosmic::iced::theme::Style> {
-        Some(cosmic::iced::theme::Style {
-            background_color: if self.material.is_some() {
-                cosmic::iced::Color::TRANSPARENT
-            } else {
-                self.background
-            },
-            text_color: self.foreground,
-            icon_color: self.foreground,
-        })
+        Some(self.palette.application_style(if self.material.is_some() {
+            cosmic::iced::Color::TRANSPARENT
+        } else {
+            self.background
+        }))
     }
 
     fn view(&self) -> Element<'_, Message> {
@@ -265,7 +261,7 @@ impl cosmic::Application for Picker {
                     .class(if selected {
                         ferese_theme::accent_button()
                     } else {
-                        cosmic::theme::Button::Standard
+                        ferese_theme::controls::navigation_style(self.palette, false)
                     })
                     .padding(8)
                     .width(Length::Fill)
@@ -304,7 +300,7 @@ impl cosmic::Application for Picker {
         content = content.push(
             row![
                 button::custom(self.text("Cancel"))
-                    .class(cosmic::theme::Button::Text)
+                    .class(ferese_theme::controls::button_style(self.palette, false))
                     .on_press(Message::Cancel),
                 share
             ]
@@ -327,7 +323,7 @@ pub(crate) fn appearance() -> (
     cosmic::Theme,
     cosmic::font::Font,
     cosmic::iced::Color,
-    cosmic::iced::Color,
+    ferese_theme::Palette,
 ) {
     let document = ferese_config::config_path()
         .and_then(|path| std::fs::read_to_string(path).ok())
@@ -345,6 +341,6 @@ pub(crate) fn appearance() -> (
             a: ferese_theme::material_opacity(document.as_ref()),
             ..palette.sidebar
         },
-        palette.text,
+        palette,
     )
 }
diff --git a/shell/ferese-polkit-agent/src/prompt.rs b/shell/ferese-polkit-agent/src/prompt.rs
index 0f0ca4f..bab284b 100644
--- a/shell/ferese-polkit-agent/src/prompt.rs
+++ b/shell/ferese-polkit-agent/src/prompt.rs
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@ use crate::PromptEvent;
 use cosmic::{
     Element,
     app::{Core, Settings, Task},
-    iced::{Alignment, Background, Border, Color, Length, Size, Subscription, window},
+    iced::{Alignment, Color, Length, Size, Subscription, window},
     theme,
-    widget::{self, button, column, container, row, text},
+    widget::{self, button, column, container, row},
 };
 use std::{
     collections::VecDeque,
@@ -198,15 +198,15 @@ impl cosmic::Application for Prompt {
     }
 
     fn style(&self) -> Option<cosmic::iced::theme::Style> {
-        Some(cosmic::iced::theme::Style {
-            background_color: if self.material.is_some() {
-                cosmic::iced::Color::TRANSPARENT
-            } else {
-                self.appearance.surface
-            },
-            text_color: self.appearance.text,
-            icon_color: self.appearance.text,
-        })
+        Some(
+            self.appearance
+                .palette()
+                .application_style(if self.material.is_some() {
+                    cosmic::iced::Color::TRANSPARENT
+                } else {
+                    self.appearance.surface
+                }),
+        )
     }
 
     fn init(
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ impl cosmic::Application for Prompt {
                 Message::Submit
             });
         }
-        let action = button::custom(text("Authenticate").font(palette.font).size(13))
+        let action = button::custom(ferese_theme::text("Authenticate", palette.font).size(13))
             .class(ferese_theme::accent_button())
             .height(Length::Fixed(36.))
             .padding([8, 16])
@@ -346,20 +346,13 @@ impl cosmic::Application for Prompt {
                 .height(40)
                 .center_x(40)
                 .center_y(40)
-                .class(theme::Container::custom(move |_| {
-                    widget::container::Style {
-                        background: Some(Background::Color(palette.accent.scale_alpha(0.13))),
-                        border: Border {
-                            radius: 12.0.into(),
-                            ..Default::default()
-                        },
-                        ..Default::default()
-                    }
-                })),
+                .class(ferese_theme::controls::surface(
+                    palette.accent.scale_alpha(0.13),
+                    12.,
+                )),
             column![
-                text("Authentication required").font(palette.font).size(18),
-                text(format!("Confirm as {}", self.user))
-                    .font(palette.font)
+                ferese_theme::text("Authentication required", palette.font).size(18),
+                ferese_theme::text(format!("Confirm as {}", self.user), palette.font)
                     .size(12)
                     .class(theme::Text::Color(palette.muted)),
             ]
@@ -369,30 +362,31 @@ impl cosmic::Application for Prompt {
         .align_y(Alignment::Center);
         let mut body = column![
             heading,
-            text(&self.description).font(palette.font).size(13),
+            ferese_theme::text(&self.description, palette.font).size(13),
             input
         ]
         .spacing(14)
         .width(Length::Fill);
         if let Some(error) = &self.error {
             body = body.push(
-                text(error)
-                    .font(palette.font)
+                ferese_theme::text(error, palette.font)
                     .size(12)
                     .class(theme::Text::Color(Color::from_rgb8(235, 98, 98))),
             );
         } else if let Some(info) = &self.info {
             body = body.push(
-                text(info)
-                    .font(palette.font)
+                ferese_theme::text(info, palette.font)
                     .size(12)
                     .class(theme::Text::Color(palette.muted)),
             );
         }
         body = body.push(
             row![
-                button::custom(text("Cancel").font(palette.font).size(13))
-                    .class(theme::Button::Text)
+                button::custom(ferese_theme::text("Cancel", palette.font).size(13))
+                    .class(ferese_theme::controls::button_style(
+                        palette.palette(),
+                        false
+                    ))
                     .padding([8, 14])
                     .on_press(Message::Cancel),
                 action
diff --git a/shell/ferese-shell/src/main.rs b/shell/ferese-shell/src/main.rs
index 35e9414..60ae127 100644
--- a/shell/ferese-shell/src/main.rs
+++ b/shell/ferese-shell/src/main.rs
@@ -1514,12 +1514,14 @@ impl FereseShell {
             .align_x(alignment);
 
         if note.interactive {
-            let title = cosmic::widget::text(if note.title.is_empty() {
-                "⋮⋮"
-            } else {
-                &note.title
-            })
-            .font(font)
+            let title = ferese_theme::text(
+                if note.title.is_empty() {
+                    "⋮⋮"
+                } else {
+                    &note.title
+                },
+                font,
+            )
             .size(note.title_size)
             .class(theme::Text::Color(foreground));
             let header = cosmic::widget::mouse_area(container(title).width(Length::Fill))
@@ -1549,15 +1551,17 @@ impl FereseShell {
             );
         } else if !note.title.is_empty() {
             body = body.push(
-                cosmic::widget::text(note.title.clone())
-                    .font(cosmic::font::Font {
+                ferese_theme::text(
+                    note.title.clone(),
+                    cosmic::font::Font {
                         weight: cosmic::iced::font::Weight::Semibold,
                         ..font
-                    })
-                    .size(note.title_size)
-                    .width(Length::Fill)
-                    .align_x(alignment)
-                    .class(theme::Text::Color(foreground)),
+                    },
+                )
+                .size(note.title_size)
+                .width(Length::Fill)
+                .align_x(alignment)
+                .class(theme::Text::Color(foreground)),
             );
         }
 
@@ -1582,8 +1586,7 @@ impl FereseShell {
             );
         } else {
             body = body.push(
-                cosmic::widget::text(note.text.clone())
-                    .font(font)
+                ferese_theme::text(note.text.clone(), font)
                     .size(note.text_size)
                     .width(Length::Fill)
                     .align_x(alignment)
@@ -1747,8 +1750,7 @@ impl FereseShell {
 
         if pixel && clock.show_date {
             labels = labels.push(
-                cosmic::widget::text(self.desktop_clock.1.clone())
-                    .font(date_font)
+                ferese_theme::text(self.desktop_clock.1.clone(), date_font)
                     .size(clock.date_size)
                     .class(theme::Text::Color(tint(
                         &clock.date_color,
@@ -1780,8 +1782,7 @@ impl FereseShell {
 
                 for (position, digit) in digits.chars().enumerate() {
                     digit_row = digit_row.push(
-                        cosmic::widget::text(digit.to_string())
-                            .font(font)
+                        ferese_theme::text(digit.to_string(), font)
                             .size(size)
                             .line_height(cosmic::iced::widget::text::LineHeight::Relative(0.8))
                             .class(theme::Text::Color(digit_colors[(line + position) % 2])),
@@ -1809,8 +1810,7 @@ impl FereseShell {
                 .min(available_height / 1.3);
 
             labels = labels.push(
-                cosmic::widget::text(self.desktop_clock.0.clone())
-                    .font(font)
+                ferese_theme::text(self.desktop_clock.0.clone(), font)
                     .size(size)
                     .width(Length::Fill)
                     .align_x(alignment)
@@ -1820,8 +1820,7 @@ impl FereseShell {
 
         if !pixel && clock.show_date {
             labels = labels.push(
-                cosmic::widget::text(self.desktop_clock.1.clone())
-                    .font(font)
+                ferese_theme::text(self.desktop_clock.1.clone(), font)
                     .size(clock.date_size)
                     .width(Length::Fill)
                     .align_x(alignment)
diff --git a/shell/ferese-shell/src/system_modal.rs b/shell/ferese-shell/src/system_modal.rs
index 8609817..219696c 100644
--- a/shell/ferese-shell/src/system_modal.rs
+++ b/shell/ferese-shell/src/system_modal.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 use super::*;
 use cosmic::iced::widget::Space;
-use cosmic::widget::{column, text};
+use cosmic::widget::column;
 
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
 pub(super) enum PowerAction {
@@ -436,9 +436,8 @@ impl FereseShell {
             let rows = match &modal.content {
                 Content::Power(action) => {
                     let mut rows = column![
-                        text(action.title()).font(shell_font()).size(23),
+                        text(action.title()).size(23),
                         text(action.description())
-                            .font(shell_font())
                             .size(14)
                             .class(theme::Text::Color(palette.muted)),
                     ]
@@ -448,13 +447,12 @@ impl FereseShell {
                     {
                         rows = rows.push(
                             text("Applications requested that this action be prevented:")
-                                .font(shell_font())
                                 .size(13)
                                 .class(theme::Text::Color(palette.muted)),
                         );
                         let items = inhibitors.reasons.iter().fold(
                             column::with_capacity(inhibitors.reasons.len()).spacing(6),
-                            |rows, reason| rows.push(text(reason).font(shell_font()).size(13)),
+                            |rows, reason| rows.push(text(reason).size(13)),
                         );
                         rows = rows.push(
                             container(cosmic::widget::scrollable(items).height(Length::Shrink))
@@ -476,11 +474,14 @@ impl FereseShell {
                     rows.push(
                         row![
                             Space::new().width(Length::Fill),
-                            button::text("Cancel")
-                                .class(ferese_theme::controls::button_style(palette, false))
-                                .on_press(cosmic::Action::App(Message::CancelPower)),
-                            button::text(label)
-                                .class(ferese_theme::controls::button_style(palette, true))
+                            ferese_theme::controls::text_button(
+                                "Cancel",
+                                shell_font(),
+                                palette,
+                                false
+                            )
+                            .on_press(cosmic::Action::App(Message::CancelPower)),
+                            ferese_theme::controls::text_button(label, shell_font(), palette, true)
                                 .on_press_maybe(
                                     modal
                                         .inhibitors
@@ -496,12 +497,8 @@ impl FereseShell {
                     for entry in entries {
                         bindings = bindings.push(
                             row![
-                                text(&entry.keys)
-                                    .font(shell_font())
-                                    .size(13)
-                                    .width(Length::FillPortion(1)),
+                                text(&entry.keys).size(13).width(Length::FillPortion(1)),
                                 text(&entry.description)
-                                    .font(shell_font())
                                     .size(13)
                                     .width(Length::FillPortion(1)),
                             ]
@@ -518,12 +515,30 @@ impl FereseShell {
                         .saturating_sub(360)
                         .clamp(40, 400) as f32;
                     column![
-                        text("Welcome to Ferese").font(shell_font()).size(23),
-                        text("Your active shortcuts").font(shell_font()).size(14).class(theme::Text::Color(palette.muted)),
-                        container(cosmic::widget::scrollable(bindings).height(Length::Shrink)).max_height(height),
-                        text("Disable this guide in Settings → Shortcuts. It appears at each login until disabled.").font(shell_font()).size(12).class(theme::Text::Color(palette.muted)),
-                        row![Space::new().width(Length::Fill), button::text("Got it").class(ferese_theme::controls::button_style(palette, true)).on_press(cosmic::Action::App(Message::CancelPower))],
-                    ].spacing(14)
+                        text("Welcome to Ferese").size(23),
+                        ferese_theme::menus::section_label(
+                            "Your active shortcuts",
+                            shell_font(),
+                            palette.muted,
+                        )
+                        .size(14),
+                        container(cosmic::widget::scrollable(bindings).height(Length::Shrink))
+                            .max_height(height),
+                        text("Disable this guide in Settings → Shortcuts. It appears at each login until disabled.")
+                            .size(12)
+                            .class(theme::Text::Color(palette.muted)),
+                        row![
+                            Space::new().width(Length::Fill),
+                            ferese_theme::controls::text_button(
+                                "Got it",
+                                shell_font(),
+                                palette,
+                                true,
+                            )
+                            .on_press(cosmic::Action::App(Message::CancelPower)),
+                        ],
+                    ]
+                    .spacing(14)
                 }
             };
             container(rows)